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3 years ago in Astrometry , Observational Astronomy By Keerthi Gupta
Is there a future for ground-based astrometry after GAIA?
Gaia has revolutionized our catalogs with microarcsecond precision. My research group is considering investing in a next-generation ground-based astrometric instrument, but we need to justify its scientific value beyond what Gaia provides. What specific scientific questions can only, or best, be addressed from the ground in the coming decades?
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By Deepthi G Answered 2 years ago
Absolutely, there is a vital and complementary future. While Gaia provides an exquisite static snapshot, the universe is dynamic. From my experience, ground-based facilities are indispensable for high-cadence monitoring tracking orbital motions in binary systems, astrometric microlensing events, or proper motions in crowded fields like the Galactic Center, which Gaia struggles with. Furthermore, next-generation instruments with extreme Adaptive Optics, like those planned for the Thirty Meter Telescope, will achieve microarcsecond precision on faint targets, enabling targeted studies of exoplanet orbits and stellar populations that Gaia cannot resolve. I have seen ground-based data crucial for validating and anchoring Gaia's celestial reference frame.
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